Activist says freeway shutdown during march wasn't intended

Updated 7:34 am, Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Stopping traffic along a busy freeway near downtown Houston was not intended to be part of a march to protest the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, organizers said Monday.

Community activist Quanell X said the July 15 march to oppose Zimmerman's not guilty verdict was supposed to have ended shortly after they crossed the Southmore overpass at Texas 288.

"I understand the spirit, the sentiment and the emotion of the people who wanted to shut the freeway down," he said.

He said he believes outside activists who were not part of their core group encouraged the fast-growing crowds to move down the embankment and onto the freeway, shutting down traffic for 10-15 minutes.

"We had elderly people with us and we had children with us. That was not part of the intention," Quanell X said.

Houston police were not present when the protestors moved onto the freeway.

Activist Quanell X, center, led the protest, which began at the Byrd Funeral Home on Wheeler and ended up on Texas 288 at Southmore. Houstonians protested George Zimmerman's acquittal in the death of unarmed, black Florida teen Trayvon Martin. less

Activist Quanell X, center, led the protest, which began at the Byrd Funeral Home on Wheeler and ended up on Texas 288 at Southmore. Houstonians protested George Zimmerman's acquittal in the death of unarmed, ... more

Protesters carried a coffin during the rally. "This is where they wish to send young black men - to the funeral home," Quanell X said.

Protesters carried a coffin during the rally. "This is where they wish to send young black men - to the funeral home," Quanell X said.

Photo: Eric Kayne, For The Chronicle

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Activist says freeway shutdown during march wasn't intended

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Parker replied that police officers were not told to "stand down."

"The organizers misrepresented where they would end their protest and how many attendees they expected," Parker replied.

Quanell X denied organizers were being dishonest when they talked to Houston police prior to the march.

"We were only expecting 200 to 300 people. We didn't think it would swell that big," he said.

The activist said police reached out to him about 48 hours before the march.

He said the number of marchers grew threefold after they left Byrd Funeral Home, 2517 Wheeler, the site of a pre-march rally.

(Videos by Mike Glenn/Chronicle)

Joining the march

"People were getting out of their cars and joining the march. People were coming out of their homes and out of the apartment complexes," Quanell X said. "Nobody expected that."

Quanell X said he moved down the embankments to convince the marchers to get off the freeway.

He told the marchers on the freeway to move any small children away from the scene and insisted they allow an ambulance to pass through their ranks.

"The police tried to respond but they could not get through," Quanell X said.

He said activists will be meeting Tuesday with Kenneth Magidson, U.S. attorney for the Southern District, to demand federal charges against Zimmerman.

"We're trying to encourage everyone across the country to demand a meeting with the U.S. Attorney in their district," Quanell X said.

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